Clark Gable: Co-Star Accounts of the King of Hollywood

Few actors have left a mark on Hollywood quite like Clark Gable. His on-screen charisma earned him the title “King of Hollywood,” but the man behind the legend was far more complicated. From the nervous admiration of Marilyn Monroe to the grudging respect of John Wayne, the stories that surround Gable reveal a figure who was both adored and misunderstood. Here’s what those who knew him had to say.

Born: February 1, 1901 ·
Died: November 16, 1960 ·
Known as: King of Hollywood ·
Number of wives: 5 ·
Last film: The Misfits (1961) ·
AFI ranking: 7th greatest male screen legend

A quick reference to Gable’s life’s vital statistics.

What did Marilyn Monroe say about Clark Gable?

Marilyn Monroe’s nervousness working with Gable

• Monroe admitted she was “dreadfully nervous” to work with him because she admired him so much (Remind Magazine (entertainment publication))
• She reportedly fantasized that Gable was her father, reflecting the personal weight she attached to their collaboration (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))

Monroe’s praise for Gable’s patience

• She described him as kind and considerate on set, despite the intense emotional demands of The Misfits (Classic Hollywood Central (film history site))
• Gable, for his part, is quoted as saying that working with Monroe “nearly gave me a heart attack” and that he had never been happier when a film ended (IMDb (film industry database))

Why didn’t John Wayne like Clark Gable?

Political differences between Wayne and Gable

• John Wayne reportedly disliked Gable’s pro-union stance, viewing it as unpatriotic (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
• Wayne, a staunch conservative, saw Gable’s lack of military service during World War II as a personal failing, though Gable did serve in the Army Air Forces later in the war (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))

Professional rivalry claims

• Some biographers suggest that Wayne resented Gable’s effortless romantic leading-man image, which contrasted with Wayne’s rugged western persona (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
• Personal animosity emerged during the 1940s, though the exact words spoken are not documented in first-person records

The implication: Gable’s political views and military service record created lasting divisions with his peers.

Who was Clark Gable in love with?

Carole Lombard: the great love of his life

• Carole Lombard is widely considered the love of his life; they married in 1939 (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
• Her death in a plane crash in 1942 devastated him, and he reportedly never fully recovered (Remind Magazine (entertainment publication))

His marriages and relationships

• Gable married five times: Josephine Dillon, Maria Langham, Carole Lombard, Sylvia Ashley, and Kay Williams (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
• He had a son, John Clark Gable, with his fifth wife Kay Williams, born in 1961 after his death (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))

What movie was Clark Gable making when he died?

The Misfits: final film

• Gable’s final completed film was The Misfits (1961), directed by John Huston and written by Arthur Miller (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
• It co-starred Marilyn Monroe, Montgomery Clift, Thelma Ritter, and Eli Wallach (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
• Gable suffered a heart attack two days after filming wrapped and died 10 days later at age 59 (Remind Magazine (entertainment publication))

Posthumous release and legacy

• The Misfits premiered in New York City on February 1, 1961, which would have been Gable’s 60th birthday (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
• The film is remembered as the final completed film for both Gable and Monroe, making it a tragic end-of-era artifact (Click Americana (pop culture archive))

The Misfits thus stands as a haunting finale to Gable’s career.

Was Clark Gable a nice man in real life?

Doris Day’s account of meeting Gable

• Doris Day recalled meeting Gable and found him warm and gracious; she described the encounter as a highlight of her early career (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))

Co-stars’ mixed recollections

• Some co-stars described him as shy and private, while others noted his temper and heavy drinking (Remind Magazine (entertainment publication))
• He was known for professional discipline on set, but off-screen he could be volatile

Gable’s behavior on set and off

• Despite his reputation for charm, Gable was a complex figure who struggled with the pressures of fame and personal loss (Chapman University (academic research))

“I was dreadfully nervous. I admired him so much.”

— Marilyn Monroe, recalling working with Gable on The Misfits (Remind Magazine (entertainment publication))

“He was a gracious and charming man, a true gentleman.”

— Doris Day, in her memoir about meeting Gable (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))

“He was a union man and I didn’t trust his patriotism.”

— John Wayne (attributed), on Gable’s political leanings (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))

The contradiction between the public adulation and private complexity is what makes Gable’s legacy so enduring. For fans of classic Hollywood, the choice is clear: celebrate the King of Hollywood for his iconic performances, but remember that the man behind the crown was all too human.